Facing the Coronavirus Pandemic in the Canadian Federation
Johanne Poirier, Jessica Michelin
Abstract
This chapter examines federal dynamics in the first six months of the Covid-19 pandemic in Canada, from the initial outbreak in March 2020 to the start of the second wave. Focusing on health and disaster/emergency management, it describes the relevant constitutional and legislative frameworks, surveys federal and provincial response measures, and analyses intergovernmental preparedness and subsequent interaction. It also examines what measures were not taken – notably the invocation of federal emergency powers. The narrative of Canada's initial pandemic response is one of parallel governmental action, in line with the federation's dualist nature. Provinces and the centre remained strong actors and jurisdictional turf battles were largely avoided. However, initial convergences gradually gave way to greater inter-provincial variations between measures. With infections and deaths differing radically across the country, vertical and horizontal intergovernmental relations (IGR) were both strengthened and tested. Unlike in some other federations, which saw centralisation or the creation of formal federally led multilateral bodies, IGR occurred through both already established and more ad hoc intergovernmental channels, often with largely behind-the-scenes cooperation. New regional blocks emerged, both to improve public health measures and to maximise political pressure on the federal government. Throughout, IGR remained widespread, executive-led, relatively effective, and opaque as ever.